TNA Staff
The New Arab / February 11, 2025
Despite an Israeli ban on UNRWA operations in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem, the agency has confirmed it is continuing to deliver humanitarian aid “at full scale” in Gaza.
With 7,000 staff members deployed, UNRWA is providing food assistance to 1.2 million Palestinians in the enclave and conducting thousands of daily health assessments.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini emphasised the need for continued support for the agency, stating, “UNRWA must be supported to continue as a key implementer of the fragile ceasefire deal.”
The Ministry of Interior in Gaza has announced the arrest of five individuals suspected of attacking aid trucks in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood.
In a statement, the ministry urged residents to prioritise the public interest and refrain from targeting aid convoys, warning that police would take strict action against violators.
Prior to the ceasefire, looting and assaults on aid trucks had surged in northern Gaza due to the Israeli offensive, while Israeli airstrikes repeatedly targeted police positions, killing several law enforcement officers.
UN humanitarian officials said on Tuesday aid flows into Gaza had increased significantly since a ceasefire deal took effect on January 19, including for items such as tents that had previously faced Israeli restrictions.
It said that such alleged violations included stopping humanitarian aid from entering Gaza as stipulated in the deal, such as 60,000 mobile houses and 200,000 tents as well as heavy machinery to remove rubble and fuel.
When asked about current aid deliveries into Gaza, UN humanitarian office (OCHA) spokesperson Jens Laerke told a Geneva press briefing: “We have been able to scale up humanitarian operations significantly with food, medical and shelter supplies and other aid during the ceasefire period.”
Earlier this month, aid officials said there were impediments to importing some items like shelter equipment which Israel said had the potential for “dual use” – civilian or military. Palestinians have been appealing for billions of dollars in emergency aid, including for units to house people made homeless by Israeli airstrikes and bombardment.
Israel denies allegations that it has stopped certain supplies including tent poles from entering Gaza on aid trucks.
COGAT, the Israeli military agency overseeing the aid deliveries into Gaza, said in a statement sent to Reuters that more than 100,000 tents had entered the coastal enclave since the ceasefire went into effect.
When asked if “dual use” restrictions imposed by Israel are still in place, Laerke deferred to the Israeli authorities.
Edem Wosornu, director of OCHA’s Operations and Advocacy division, said that although aid supplies had improved since the ceasefire, they fell short of the needs on the ground.
“We can never match the needs right now. Gaza is completely devastated, infrastructure is not where it should be. We will try our best. The trucks are but a drop in the ocean,” she told a gathering of Geneva-based diplomats.
The Health Ministry in Gaza has released an updated report on casualties resulting from Israel’s ongoing assault on the territory.
According to the statement, 11 more deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours- three newly killed individuals and eight bodies recovered- while hospitals received 10 additional wounded patients.
This update brings the official death toll from Israeli attacks since 7 October to at least 48,219, with 111,665 people injured, the ministry confirmed.
Many victims remain trapped beneath the rubble, while the Government Media Office in Gaza estimates the total number of fatalities at 61,709, citing thousands of missing persons now presumed dead.
